|
i
<br /> Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
<br /> • • • .• • Context-Sensitive Design in Connecticut
<br /> Since there are so many differ- Miriam Crum is a project manager for , , , , , , , , , , ,, , , , ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Will Britneg Carl Banc and Simone Cristofnri
<br /> ent types of roads and so many the New Jersey Department of Trans-
<br /> ! different otential artnerin portation(NJDO?).Shecurrentlyman-
<br /> p p g ages both theNewJerseyHrren I Road- In the early 1900s, roadway 1983 collapse of the Mianus cut be one of five pilot states to
<br /> arrangements,what works for d- construction typically consist- River Bridge in Greenwich, participate in an initiative to
<br /> one group or for one road way Study and the Historic Bridge
<br /> g p PreservationP/an. ed of paving over dirt roads ConnDOT embarked on a implement "context-sensitive
<br /> might not work in every case. that in some cases were noth- major infrastructure improve- design'nationally.
<br /> Solutions must be customized ing more than old cow paths. ment program. A large com-
<br /> to deal with the wide range of Andrea Tingey is the principal historic
<br /> g preservation specialistintheTransporta- Beginning in the 1930s, the ponent of this program was What is Context-Sensitive
<br /> roadway types and the goals of lion and Plannin Unit at the New industry recognized that to the reconstruction of the
<br /> the partners involved in the Jersey State Historic Raervation Office. provide a reasonable level of expressways serving Hartford, Design?
<br /> study. safety it needed to establish a which required a major com- "Context-sensitive design"
<br /> { In New Jersey, a consistent approach to high- mitment to keeping the public involves taking into consider-
<br /> statewide study was a way design.In the late 1930s,, informed of the proposed ation the land use and
<br /> ' tion. In other instancees,s, a a national committees were changes. environment adjacent to the
<br /> i management plan for a formed to develop appropriate The success of this public roadway when planning and
<br /> particular resource may be design criteria to guide the information/relations program designing a project.Designers
<br /> the best method to reach a highway engineers,which cul- led to even greater public make decisions based on the
<br /> goal. Look to other manage- minated with the publication involvement during the impacts of the roadway on
<br /> ment plans,partnerships,and of nationally accepted design design and planning phases. the community, rather than
<br /> studies for examples that may criteria in the 1950s. Citizen advisory groups began blindly following set design
<br /> best suit your needs or goals. With safety now recog- to influence project designs criteria.It requires designers to
<br /> Expect your goals and solu- nized as a major goal of the and procedures. One such be aware of the environment
<br /> tions to evolve with the designer,these design criteria group was the Merritt Parkway in which the road sits and the
<br /> passage of time. were employed and further Working Group (MPWG), a qualities of the area*that the
<br /> And finally, be patient refined in the 1960s. In the multidisciplinary group with community feels are impor-
<br /> enough to work in incremen- late 1960s,however, the pub- representatives from both the tant. Designers must accept
<br /> tal steps. Trying to deal with lic became more concerned public and private sectors, the community as a partner in
<br /> everything at one time may with the environment and which established guidelines the decision-making process
<br /> be too overwhelming for socio-economic considerations for future projects on the his, and be open to constructive
<br /> some partners based on their
<br /> available tools and prescribed and began to oppose what was toric and nationally recog- comments and compromises.
<br /> limits. perceived as the proliferation nized Merritt Parkway. The ultimate goal of a
<br /> of roads and' the negative The success ofConnDOTs context-sensitive design is to
<br /> environmental affects associ- involvement with the MPWG provide a facility that meets .
<br /> ated with them. and other projects, such as the needs of motorists and
<br /> As a result, the Con- the reconstruction of Route 6 addresses the concerns of the
<br /> necticut Department of through the historic village community that the road passes
<br /> Transportation (ConnDOT) of Brooklyn in eastern Con- through. To meet this goal,
<br /> .became more responsive to necticut,led the Federal High- the designer and the commu-
<br /> the concerns and desires of the way Administration(FHWA) nity need to identify the con-
<br /> communities. Following the to recommend that Connecti- cerns of the community and
<br /> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .
<br /> FORUM JOURNAL S U M ME R 2 0 0 0
<br />
|